The Do’s and Don’ts of Using PowerPoint

Slideshows are a quick, easy, and effective way to inject visual interest into a presentation. However, they can also be the kiss of death even for the most seasoned presenter. The key to a successful PowerPoint is to make sure your slideshow acts as a visual aid and not a visual distraction. It should also be used only to supplement what the presenter is saying. Here we will take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of an effective PowerPoint presentation. 

DO: Keep it Concise

The biggest mistake most people make when creating a slideshow is to paste all of their information verbatim onto the slides. Not only is this incredibly boring, but no one has the desire to read all of that text. The general rule of thumb is to limit yourself to five words per line and no more than five lines per slide. 

DON’T: Use Special Effects

It can be tempting to add all of the bells and whistles to your PowerPoint but this often ends doing more harm than good. Transitions and sound effects can become the focus of attention, and this distracts the audience from your actual message. It’s best to leave out the fade-ins, fade-outs, wipes, checkerboards, dissolves, splits, and other special effects. Focus on your message and not these fancy add-ons. 

DO: Look Up!

Even if you are referencing the information on your slides, you should still look up and maintain eye contact with your audience. This is important for engagement. 

DON’T: Read the Slides

Your audience can read on their own and the last thing they want is for you to read every word to them. Your slides should only be used to support your oral presentation, not as a script. 

DO: Use Bullets and Numbered Lists

People process information better when it’s organized into parts. Break down your information into sections and then break those down into smaller subsections. Make sure the information flows in an orderly fashion and is easy to understand. Progressively released bullets (that pop up one at a time) can be useful for helping the audience keep track of where you are and they also prevent them from reading ahead. 

DON’T: Use Standard Clipart

The clipart included with PowerPoint has been so overused that it shows a lack of creativity and can really downplay your slideshow. You are better off sticking with a simple design and avoiding graphics but if you do choose to add graphics, go with high-quality photographs or custom graphics that will enhance your message. 

DO: Use Data Sparingly

Creating a slide with significant amounts of data can overwhelm your audience. It is more beneficial to add contextual information that your viewers can more easily understand that dense, data-focused slides.